With the Paris Olympics approaching, countries are gearing up for their shot at success. However, this excitement also brings out intense rivalries, shaping the competition. One notable showdown is between American Regan Smith and Australian Kaylee McKeown in swimming. Smith recently broke McKeown’s world record in the 100m backstroke at the US Paris 2024 trials, setting the stage for an epic battle. Smith’s stunning swim, clocking 57.13 seconds, surpassed McKeown’s previous record, surpassed McKeown’s previous record of 57.33

Earlier, Smith had already impressed in the semi-finals with a time of 57.47 seconds. McKeown, though challenged, remains focused on improvement and sees each race as a chance to refine her skills. McKeown candidly expressed her feelings, saying, “I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit disappointed with that.” However, she swiftly shifted her focus to the future, recognizing the opportunity to refine her skills and strive for greater success in Paris. Despite their long-standing rivalry, both athletes appreciate a good challenge. As the future remains unpredictable, their journey unfolds, with the roots of their rivalry tracing back to 2019.

Starting at 22 years old, Regan Smith’s journey in the world of swimming has been marked by record-breaking performances and intense rivalries. When she was 17 years old she captured everyone’s attention by breaking the 100m backstroke world record at the 2019 World Championships in 57.57 seconds. Her time, at the top was brief as Kaylee McKeown took back the record in 2021. Smith held onto the record until McKeown surpassed it with a time of 57.45, during Australia’s trials that year.

The competition between them heated up at the Tokyo Olympics. McKeown won gold in the 100m backstroke event three years ago while Smith took home the bronze. Their rivalry peaked during the Olympics, with McKeown’s celebratory moment being her laden comment, ” “f— yeah” in a live TV interview, by the poolside while finishing third in the final. This pattern repeated itself in 2023.

Can Regan Smith surpass Kaylee McKeown’s 200m record?

At the World Swimming Championships held in Fukuoka, Japan July 2023, the women’s 100-meter backstroke event witnessed Regan Smith being surpassed by Kaylee McKeown. Initially leading at the 50-meter mark, Smith was overtaken by her counterpart, in the stretch. McKeown clinched the world title with a time of 57.53 seconds while Smith closely followed in place with a time of 57.78. Despite Smith’s outstanding performance, McKeown’s late push secured her victory, making it the fastest time ever recorded and setting a new world championship record. Interestingly, this rivalry resurfaced in October as well.

At the 2023 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Budapest, Kaylee McKeown broke her second world record. She dominated the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 57.33 seconds, besting her own previous record set in 2021 by 0.12 seconds. Then in 2024 again, the record was broken. At the 2024 Tyr Pro Series in Westmont, Illinois, Regan Smith clocked the fastest times ever recorded in the 100m backstroke and 200m butterfly for this early in the year, achieving 57.64 seconds and 2:04.80, in under 40 minutes.

Her performance was just shy of her American record in the backstroke. Kaylee McKeown has achieved feats of being the woman to have swum faster than Smith. She holds the five times with her world record set last October. Currently, all attention is on whether Smith can break McKeown’s 200m backstroke world record of 2;03.14 at the trials. What is your take on it? comment below.